Good Day

Shout out to my parents....you're loved. I went in to the bathroom and found this....had a big heart before the photos. I didn't think to take a photo until I'd started erasing. Stacia drew Gma and Zander drew Gpa. ::grin::

Today was a busy day. All the paperwork I didn't get done yesterday, got done today.

Michael had a better day. He's still on liquids.

The youngers got a full+ day of school done.

I got the chili in the crock pot this a.m. and Arielle and I loved it. We both were able to grab a bowl before running out tonight.

Arielle started babysitting for the local church's small group again. I began PWOC Evening again tonight.....really, really good lesson on The Fiery Furnace.

Stacia informed me, when I walked in the door, that she threw up while I was gone. I'm not liking the sounds of this. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Rough Day - Sort of

We haven't a clue WHY,  but Michael had a rough morning. He's back on a liquid diet for another week. He's already pushing the boundaries as to the definition of "liquid."

I had planned to do a PWOC board report, a couple of PWOC After Action reports, and put together announcements for Wednesday's PWOC meeting.  I did none of it - and I'm o.k. with that.

I spent the day running up and down the stairs with enticing bits of liquidness, doing couch school with the younger two and zipping out for anti-nausea meds. I was THRILLED with the service and the price (free) of Rite Aid.

The older kids managed a full week of school last week. The younger two managed table school. Last week was still Christmas break in our school district - so we actually GAINED days. ::snort:: BUT we need to make some progress on couch school.

I had hoped to take down Christmas decorations today in my spare time - but that didn't happen either. I'm also o.k. with this.

We did move the Gingerbread villages into the kitchen. The PLAN was to throw them away but these two discovered they love gingerbread....so they dismantled the pieces to save.....ugh.



Zander got a kick out of eating Santa



I started the day with great hopes of what I'd accomplish now that we were home.I cooked 2 kinds of beans to make some chili. By diner time I steamed rice and we had burritos instead. I'm o.k. with that.

Zander and Stacia discovered these spy toys really WORK. One can type a message and it shows up on the other's eye piece.

Bottom line - I didn't get much of what I "needed" to do done today. I am not usually a slacker. Today was simply a day to focus on my number one ministry. Family. I loved getting laundry done, a meal cooked (of sorts) and cuddling on the couch and reading with the kids. I also accomplished my two top personal goals - time with Jesus and a workout. The rest will wait. I'm o.k. with that.

It is nice having Michael home. Here he is decked out in a green and yellow robe ready to cheer the Ducks on to victory. They didn't win. I'm not sure I'm o.k. with that. I really, really like Mariota and it made me sad his last game was so dismal.....I am impressed with the Bucks....just wish they'd not played the Ducks tonight.  Sometimes it's tough to be a fun.

Arielle is making a cheery "babysitting bag."

First EVER - we allowed dinner to be eaten on the couch, in the family room, in front of the TV  - it was the championships!

This is how Arielle likes to watch the game!

Heard some great news from Josiah as he looks to re-locate.....it was fun to talk with him. Yeah - it was a good day.....when its all weighed in the balance.

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

He's Home

Today was a busy Sunday. The kids and I went to chapel  After chapel I got the kids settled at home and headed to the hospital.

Michael was DRESSED. He had a good night and they told him as soon as the doctor showed up to discharge him he could go home. The doctor never showed up, but called in at 3:00 p.m. to say that Michael could go home. Unfortunately, we need a note from him saying how long Michael is on convalescent leave and we have to get that from him tomorrow. Michael has to take it to the clinic on base and give it to them so they can begin his leave.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to do it this way - but that's the way it works here. SO.....Michael will have to get up and about tomorrow to go to base to be told he can go home and stay on quarters. ::snort::

It's going to be a busy week with caregiving and ministry stuff starting up again.

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Saturday @ the Surgical Hospital

We watched a lot of football. ::wink::

Our great news of the day is the pathology reports on his appendix came back and while it was "really, really bad" - it is NOT cancerous!

Michael is doing much better. So well, that the decision was made to take him off the pain pump and begin oral meds tonight. Michael does NOT do well with oral pain meds. We've discussed this with the doctor.

Prayers appreciated for Michael tonight if you think of it. They're going to try oral meds....last time he was dizzy, lightheaded, violently and  repeatedly  vomited, flushed and I think had a rash....

I saw the incision. I GET why this is not the "same day procedure" we were expecting. His incision is at least 5 inches long. Yes, I will measure when he gets home. 

He really is doing MUCH better....we need his body systems to wake up and we need to figure out what to do for pain control at home. We were pretty sure in Misawa they had morphine tablets he took home.

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Another Update

Michael takes great joy in mocking my propensity to fall asleep reading a riveting book from my ipad.

This week I have come to walk in intimacy with Michael a bit more as I understand the FUN in catching a spouse "reading" while asleep. ::snort::

Michael did not come home today. He had a rough night and it is best he is right where he is.

I had M&Ms today (Moms and Mentors).  Megan has graciously opened her home to us. She has a playroom upstairs and our kids watch all the kids there - while we moms meet below. There was much more energy from the upper room - but I think we topped them for fervor in the living room.   This is going to be a fun group. Today there were 18 of us - 5 moms. Our discussion of  Desperate was encouraging and challenging as we discussed how we are not alone in this call to mother, the importance of friendship, the role of formulas in our parenting, and the fact that both we and our children are sinners - and how that should impact our mothering.  The group loves the format of a young mom baring her ragged struggles and an older mom sharing wisdom learned through the years and Scripture.   There is  something priceless in simply meeting with a small group of other women and sharing honestly about our success and struggles. Each gal will get together with another one of the gals sometime this month - it may be a play date, or a coffee date or whatever.  Sally's comments in chapter two about how she finds and create communities for herself and her children as she moves around were really encouraging and appropriate for a group of military women.  I believe each of us left encouraged. I would love to have a couple more older moms attending - I think it would provide a richness in shared views and would be fun to pair not only with  new play date friends but with older friends.....but at this point it's me and the young gals.....they chose to meet early in the morning - and while this means we "lose" a day of school - I can see this works so well for their little ones with nap and lunch.  I'm going to love this group - and so they start my list of blessings for the day. LOL

After M&Ms I took the kids home, grabbed a bit of lunch and headed for the hospital. As Michael was resting peacefully, I left in time to be home and watch a movie with the kids. I certainly didn't expect this week to go as it has - but it's been a good week - full of blessings should I choose to look for them.

Blessings:

• M&Ms - the Moms and Mentor kind ::wink:: Still abstaining from sugar
• Stephanie brought over some yummy enchiladas and roasted veggies for dinner
• Michael has lost the oxygen and is awake more
• Movie with the kids before bedtime

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Day of Silence

I left the house this morning with the intention of bringing Michael home. Dr. Fahey decided to keep him another day.  It was a good call.

I spent another quiet day with Michael. We didn't talk much.....

He read Lord of the Rings

 

He tried to write emails

 

He "ate" dinner

Do you see a common theme? ::snort:: Throughout the day he lost various tubes and such. He's down to oxygen, pain pump and an IV....we went for three walks up the hall....all in all a good day. A sleepy day.

I read more from The Reason For God.  I did a bit of PWOC stuff. I talked with Gopi, our nurse.

Blessings for the day:

• Time with Michael
• Great care at Sutter Surgical Hospital North Valley - highly recommended and close to home
• Days of solitude and silence - wasn't quite how I envisioned it - but it's good
• Bowl of soup from a local café - sitting by the fountain from the Farmer's Market
• Blanket from the warmer - love Gopi.
• Father Frank and Ed came by with flowers and snacks - and left dinner for the kids again.
• Arielle made muffins for Moms & Mentors (M&Ms) so I didn't have to when I got home.

Funny from the day:

The hospital has chefs. They come around in their chef's uniform to ask what you'd like for meals - a few times a day. Michael could have anything he wanted - as long as he realized it would be put in a blender before it reached his room.  Our gal asked if I'd like to have a complimentary dinner. Why not? She told me tonight was "shrimp and steak." I told her I was vegan and I'd grab something when I got home. She told me she could make me a  vegan meal. Dinner came. I had a bowl of mashed potatoes. Just like Michael's......and HE got 7-up and yogurt too. ::snort::  Cracked me up - my first chef prepared vegan meal - a bowl of mashed potatoes. They WERE good.

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Surgery Update

We left bright and early this morning for the Sutter Surgical Hospital in Yuba City.  I am really impressed with this place.  We had been told Michael's surgery would take 45 - 90 minutes. He would be out by 1000 and we'd  be home by 1200....unless.

Our prayer has been they'd figure out what is causing pain and fix it......

This center has many more options for pain management than we had available in Japan. We figured this out when they put a red band on Michael's wrist to alert all which narcotics he reacts to. They asked him what he was given in place of them and he said "Vitamin M" - Ibuprofen.  Evidently that was the wrong answer. Praise God.

Surgery lasted until 11:45. They had told me if they were able to do it all laparoscopically  it would be quick. The choices of what might happen went all the way to bad.

When we hit the 2.5 hour mark I knew they had found something.  The surgeon told me part of Michael's small intestine had adhered to his stomach - they detached it. When they did that they could see his appendix. It was "abnormal," inflamed, scarred and IT had attached itself to his stomach at the spot where Michael has been complaining of pain. It didn't show up on scans or blood work.  They removed it and we are praying and hopeful  this is the end of the pain.  They had to make a 3 1/2 inch incision next to his other zippers....but hey....it was the middle option. I'm happy.

The surgeon said the appendix "could" be the source of his pain. It may not be. We'll wait and see.....and pray.  We'll talk to the surgeon more tomorrow. I may have details a bit skewed.

They took the time to "get their hands" on lots of intestines and did not feel any tumors. YES.

They admitted him. They gave him a spinal  with morphine in it and  he is numb.....and very, very sleepy.  He's in great hands at the center. He's having a very hard time waking up and staying awake. Sleep really is best for him and they ARE monitoring to be sure his heart is staying where it should be.

I came home to spend bedtime with the kids.  I'll go back in the a.m. Praying he makes it through the night with no adverse reactions to pain meds.

Blessings today:
Father Frank and Ed  stopped by the house with chicken adobo, pork chops,  meatballs, a salad and potatoes. They stopped by and visited and prayed with us at the Surgical Hospital - and they called and said they'd bring pizza and quinoa salad tomorrow.  I told them we'd have to do this more often if we got to eat like this. ::snort::

Michael nurse, Todd, brought me pillows and blankets from the WARMER! WOW.  They are very attentive and I'm at peace being home with the kids.

I spent a quiet day reading, texting and watching this man. Praying this is the final answer.

Choosing Joy!
©2015 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...